H.—2o,

20

The return from the garden-produce and root crops amounted to approximately £1,000, our produce being in good demand in the markets. 300 ewes and nine rams were purchased. 482 lambs were sold for £577 125., thirteen head of cattle realized £93 10s., five turkeys, £3 lis. 10d., and 110 pigs (including weaners supplied to Point Halswell and Mount Crawford), £149 3s. 7d. Twenty head of cattle, eleven sheep, and five pigs were killed for rations. The 1928 wool-clip realized £167 2s. sd. 4,921 lb. of wool were forwarded for the Janua.ry, 1930, sales, but with the reduced prices offering the return will not be so great proportionally. Hides realized £20 3s. 4d.; skins, £10 7s. Bd.; tallow, £4 2s. 5d.; bones, £5 ss. Lambing was good, the return being 106 per cent. An up-to-date wool-shed was constructed from material supplied from the old Terrace Prison, and a wool-press was installed. This with the new yards has made the shearing and handling of the sheep much easier and more expeditious. A dip will be constructed in the near future, and water will be laid on from the main. Some 2,000 Pinus insignis and 2,000 macrocarpa trees were purchased from Paparua Prison for shelter purposes. Eight gates were built to replace manuka gates and slip-rails. A horse-mower, a Planet Jr. hill and drill machine, and a Planet Jr. wheel-hoe were purchased during the year. A seed-drill and a hay-rake are required for the expeditious working of the farm. Owing to the tractor being sent to Paparua, work was somewhat delayed, digging and stumping having to be carried out by manual labour during its absence. A certain amount of papering and repair work was carried out at the officers' cottages, but the need for painting and repairing these cottages is urgent. The cottages were connected with the Upper Hutt water-supply, and provision was made for fire hydrants. It is hoped that the prison will be connected up during the early part of the new year. A memorial cairn to the late Rev. James Holmes, which was erected by the inmates (who also painted a suitably worded tablet), was unveiled by Mrs. Holmes—the service being conducted by the Rev. Mr. Hunt. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department; Mr. B. L. Dallard, Controller-General of Prisons ; and several friends of the late Rev. Mr. Holmes, and members of the Church were present. A choir of inmates, hidden in the native bush, sang suitable hymns. Afternoon tea was provided by the officers' wives. The ceremony was very impressive. Breadmaking has been a continued success; 39,5901b. were supplied for rations, 6,136 Ib. to officers, and 19,351 lb. to the Defence Department. The industry showed a substantial profit for the year. Divine service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Kenrick, Father Kelly, the Rev. Mr. Hunt, Mr. Chappell of the Y.M.C.A., and Salvation Army officers. Cinema entertainments were given at intervals by Mr. Chappel and Mr. Power, of the Y.M.C.A., and concerts by the Commercial Travellers' Orchestra, Salvation Army, and Presbyterian Church. Mr. W. P. Sommerville, prison dentist, presented a number of gramophone records. Christmas cheer was provided by the New Zealand Tobacco Co., Mr. P. Robertson, V.J., the Hon. Justices' Association, W. P. Sommerville, Salvation Army, and the Y.M.C.A. The conduct of the staff has been most satisfactory. Their success in dealing with prisoners, while at the same time maintaining discipline, shows that they fully appreciate the present ideas of prison treatment. Addington Reformatory Prison (Women). (Superintendent, Miss E. M. Hunt.) In the beginning of this year there were 28 inmates in custody ; 91 were admitted during the year ; 63 were discharged on the expiration of their sentences ; 13 were released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board ; 2 were transferred to the mental hospital ; 13 were transferred to other institutions or handed to the police ; 2 paid their fine and were discharged, leaving 26 inmates in custody at the Ist January, 1930. The general health and conduct of the inmates have been good. The inmates' work consists of domestic work, making prison clothes, mending, knitting stockings, milking, feeding poultry, and attending to the vegetable and flower gardens. Sufficient jam to meet the institutions requirements for the year was made, and the surplus fruit' sold in the open market. The laundry is now in working-order, and we repair all the clothing for the different Departments we wash for, so that every inmate is usefully employed and always kept busy. I regret to state that Mrs. Miller, the Official Visitor, died very suddenly last May. She was very interested in this institution, and both officers and inmates feel that they have lost a very sympathetic friend. Rev. P. Revell has supplied money and clothing for discharged women whenever they have required it. Father McKeon has undertaken to help any woman who wants help on discharge, and he arranges board and lodgings as well as employment for those who are out of work. The concerts and entertainments have been carried out all the year round. High teas on holidays, Christmas, and New Year dinners have been supplied by the Salvation Army, Official Visitors, and social workers. This year the public have been very generous with their donations. A good supply of books, magazines, papers, and clothing has been received during the year. Religious services are held regularly by the Rev. P. Revell, Father McKeon, Salvation Army, and Sisters of the Mission, so every inmate attends a service once a week.